10.4.17

Couple try to sell 5-month-old child on Craigslist said she had done this before

A Tennessee couple accused of attempting to sell their infant baby over Craigslist allegedly attempted the vile act once before.

Both Deanna Greer, 37, and John Cain, 26, are facing charges after allegedly trying to sell their 5-month-old child — a plan which was foiled by undercover police in a sting operation.

Greer allegedly told an undercover agent that she had exchanged a child for money before, according to ABC7.

Agent Chris Wilhoit said in court that Greer told him, “She had an 11-year-old daughter who was doing well, that she had given up in the past in this way.”

The couple was charged with criminal attempt to commit aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment, as well as violating Haley’s Law, ABC7 writes.

The couple allegedly asked for $3,000 as a part of the transaction, and police were tipped off when someone informed them that a baby was advertised on the classifieds website.

Special agents were then called upon to answer the ad. They met with the couple, which tried to move forward with the deal they’d made over the phone.

Once the faux sale took place, Cain and Greer were placed under arrest. The child was placed in the care of the Department of Children’s Services.

During the hearing, the state utilized testimony from Wilhoit, who reportedly took the persona of a preacher and requested to meet Cain and Greer at a Dollar General.

“She had paperwork that she read to me,” Wilhoit said, according to ABC, “that she called guardianship paperwork, saying she was giving me and my alleged wife guardianship of the child.”

Wilhoit also revealed that Greer told him she was pregnant and that she was “ill and had a tumor.”

The state also relied upon Police Captain Joy Shoun, who helped arrange the meeting.

According to ABC7, Shoun told the prosecutor that “She (Greer) was adamant that this was not, in her words, ‘selling the child,’” Shoun said. “This was an adoption, and the $3,000 would be considered for expenses.”

Shoun also said that Greer suggested the two erase the text messages outlining the transaction.

The defense team argued that Greer and Cain never explicitly stated they were “selling” their child and never attempted to harm the child.

Greer and Cain are being held on a $175,000 bond. The case was sent to a grand jury and the two will appear again on May 12.